The Intersect: Art in Tech and Tech in Art - The Intersect: Art in Tech and Tech in Art

Greetings from Juergen

Hi everyone,

This week's curation explores the world of digital art and its intersection with traditional practices. We look at Art Dubai Digital's innovative showcases, Nike's newly unveiled design archive, and the role of immersive experiences in museums. Additionally, we examine how gaming platforms are becoming new canvases for contemporary artists.

Join me in these compelling stories that highlight the evolving relationship between art and technology.

Societal Impact of Art and Tech

Exploring the Future of Digital Art: Art Dubai Digital's Fourth Year

Digital natives, having grown up with technology, see digital tools as a natural part of their creative process. The article from .ART Domains, featuring Gonzalo Herrero Delicado's insights, underscores this trend, highlighting how Art Dubai Digital's fourth year showcases diverse digital mediums like AR/VR and NFTs. Delicado's efforts aim to position Dubai as a global hub for digital culture.

Our take? Traditional artists, grounded in classical methods, often view digital art with skepticism, questioning its authenticity and skill. This gap underscores the need for hybrid approaches and open dialogues.

"Digital art isn't just about NFTs; it spans installations, film, videos, and VR. We're showcasing this diversity at Art Dubai Digital, involving both commercial galleries and digital art platforms."

Ultimately, as a traditional artist myself, I keep working on bridging these perspectives.

Design

Nike Has a Secret Design Archive. This New Museum Show Takes You Inside of It.

Nike's secretive sneaker archive has been unveiled in a new exhibition at the Vitra Design Museum, as reported by Fast Company. Curator Glenn Adamson explores Nike's rich design history from its beginnings in 1964 to the present day. The exhibition showcases Nike's blend of creativity and sports innovation, featuring rare prototypes and iconic designs.

Our take? Sneaker culture has always been a reflection of both style and innovation, and Nike's journey illustrates this beautifully. The evolution of their designs reflects broader cultural shifts, and the ads are as fun and innovative as the sneakers themselves. They capture a playful spirit that resonates with sneaker enthusiasts and art lovers alike.

"Just when everyone’s counted Nike out—boom—we do what we’ve done repeatedly over our 50 years, which is something bold, new, disruptive, and we change the game," said Nike CEO John Donahoe.

This exhibition is a must-see for anyone fascinated by the intersection of art and tech. Or at least anyone wearing sneakers.

Interactive Art

How Should Traditional Museums Think About Immersive Experiences?

Art museums face a challenge in deciding whether to invest in immersive experiences, as detailed in a recent ARTnews article. With immersive art generating significant revenue globally, museums must weigh the potential benefits against the costs and physical space requirements. The article highlights that while immersive exhibitions are popular, they present unique logistical hurdles that traditional museums must overcome.

In Sarasota, the Van Gogh exhibition was housed in a temporary structure, resembling a circus tent. Such installations are transient and costly, making it understandable why museums hesitate. The Sphere in Las Vegas stands as a rare permanent space for immersive art. This raises the question of whether more museums should follow suit or if the market isn't quite ready for such a commitment.

"I wonder whether it makes sense for museums to have a permanent immersive exhibition hall, like the Sphere in Las Vegas, or not."

Can museums find the right balance between traditional and immersive exhibits?

Art Plays Games

Mike Pinnington's article on The Double Negative discusses the evolving relationship between contemporary art and gaming. The exhibition "Art Plays Games" at FACT Liverpool exemplifies this shift, showcasing works by artists who use gaming platforms to explore complex themes.

The increasing use of gaming platforms by artists is fascinating. It shows how technology can serve as a new medium for artistic expression, breaking traditional boundaries and creating immersive experiences. This trend underscores the reciprocal influence of art and tech, where advancements in one field drive innovation in the other.

"Anybody who has played in earnest has a game they’ll have concluded to be a work of art."

Gaming’s rise in cultural status and its adoption by contemporary artists highlight its potential as a significant art form.

Featured Artists

Accidental Aesthetics on Medium

A Personal Project: Join my whimsical journey through "Accidental Aesthetics," where I explore the unique and unexpected beauty in everyday scenes. From hidden architectural gems to serendipitous street art, each story is a visual and narrative adventure inspired by the style of Wes Anderson.

Follow me on Medium for detailed, narrative-driven content that captures the essence of symmetry, serendipity, and hidden wonders.

The tech angle with my art, more specifically photography, is that I used to be a paid photographer lugging around super heavy DSLR equipment. I have weaned myself off of this equipment completely and am now trying to produce large format art prints shot only on an iPhone. So, I'm only traveling with an iPhone these days. That's fundamentally the technology challenge of using a number of different apps and AI tools during this exploration: for perspective correction, for introducing motion without a tripod, and for trying to make real the promise of iPhone photography resulting in artwork that can be both fun, yet taken seriously.

Cheers and thanks for checking it out, Juergen

Art & Science

New images of deep sea wonders are surprisingly adorable

Laura Baisas at Popular Science highlights an intriguing deep-sea expedition that uncovered some surprisingly photogenic marine life, from a rare Promachoteuthis squid to the internet-famous "Casper" octopus. This expedition, led by the Schmidt Ocean Institute, brings much-needed attention to the vibrant ecosystems thriving in the depths of the Southern Pacific.

"Since so little is known about this region, a lot of what we found out there is new to science, and these benthic communities are surprisingly diverse and healthy," says Tomer Ketter of the Schmidt Ocean Institute.

Our take on “cute” is a bit more ambivalent. While these deep-sea creatures are fascinating, there's a tendency for us to impose human characteristics on them—a concept known as anthropomorphism. It's a reminder of our myopic view as humans.

It's worth pondering how our perceptions shape our interactions with the natural world. Still, those images are undeniably cool!

Tech in Art Education

Do Children Dream of AI Sheep in Museums? (not nightmares)

Two stories from MuseumNext's "Do Children Dream of AI Sheep in Museums? (not nightmares)" explore the unpredictable relationship between young people and AI in museum settings. These narratives open up discussions on how technology is reshaping interactions in spaces traditionally focused on history and art.

Our take on this touches on a disturbing question:

"Could children start trusting AI chatbots more than their parents?"

As AI becomes more integrated into educational experiences, it challenges the dynamics of trust and authority. Exploring these relationships invites us to rethink how we guide children through an AI-driven world.

Enhancing Art Education with Storytelling and Multimedia

ArtCentrica's article highlights their online platform aimed at transforming art education, offering access to over 8,000 high-res artworks. The platform fosters an interactive and interdisciplinary learning experience. As someone who produces podcasts, the combination of storytelling and multimedia resonates deeply with me.

"ArtCentrica’s approach aims at developing soft skills interactively in every lesson."

This integration of storytelling into art education is particularly compelling. It mirrors the power of narratives we leverage in our podcasts, making complex subjects more accessible and engaging.

ArtCentrica stands out by allowing teachers and students to create immersive, multimedia-rich lessons directly on the platform.

Digital Archiving and Art Preservation

Endemic Obsolescence: The Shortened Lifespan of Digital Art

Digital artwork has a shorter life than might be expected. Reviewed in The Art Newspaper, "Art Decoded: Shortened Lifespan Digital Art" examines the impermanence of digital art, raising valid concerns about relying on third-party platforms for preservation. The article highlights the fragility of digital mediums compared to traditional archival methods.

Trusting third-party providers to maintain digital platforms indefinitely is naive. The reality is that these providers might not last as long as traditional archival print and paper methods. This raises significant questions about the future of art preservation.

“My view: The much more likely scenario is that the life expectancy of third-party providers is fewer years and fewer decades than the archival print and paper used to be.”

The article makes us rethink our approach to preserving digital art. How do we ensure its longevity in a rapidly changing technological landscape?

Future Trends in Art and Tech

ArtistBnB: Affordable Travel Accommodations for Creatives

Artsted has announced the launch of artistBnB, a platform designed specifically for creatives to find affordable and suitable studios or accommodations while traveling. This platform aims to address the unique challenges faced by artists when seeking spaces that support their creative work. Unlike traditional booking platforms, artistBnB offers a more cost-effective solution tailored to the needs of the art community.

The idea of an AirBnB for artists is a brilliant and fun application of tech. It solves a real problem by providing a network of spaces equipped with the necessary facilities for creatives. This approach not only makes travel more affordable but also fosters a supportive environment for artists to work and collaborate.

"ArtistBnB represents more than just a convenient solution for travel accommodations – it embodies Artsted's commitment to fostering sustainability within the art space."

Sign up for the artistBnB waitlist to be among the first to experience this innovative platform.

Can Internet-Born Platforms Fashion a Print Market Fit for Gen Z Collectors?

The Art Newspaper's article "Digital Platforms Expand Print Market for Gen Z Collectors" explores how digital platforms are driving Gen Z's interest in print art. It suggests that this trend could rejuvenate the traditional art market. But can the print-based market truly rely on Gen Z alone?

In March, the Amsterdam-based Avant Arte, which works with contemporary artists to produce affordable editioned prints—with an average price this year of around €2,000—published a report examining the collecting behaviour of its community. So, who are the New Generation of Art Collectors? Almost half are aged 18-39, while 80% are younger than 50—and the report finds that 75% are looking for prints.

There's a question of sustainability. Gen Z's current interest might be more about decorating their first homes and apartments. When they age, will they continue buying print art, or will their tastes evolve?

"Is it just that Gen Z is of a younger age and purchasing print art because they have homes, apartments, and other places to decorate, whereas an older demographic, presumably also a richer demographic, does not?"

This trend might be a temporary boost rather than a long-term solution for the print market?

The Last Word

Thank you for exploring these stories with me. Your feedback and insights are always welcome, so please share your thoughts. I hope you find this content both informative and thought-provoking. Keep engaging with the intersections of creativity and technology. Your participation makes this journey meaningful.

Best, Juergen